NCAA FB

UNC: McAdoo, Ramsay permanently ineligible

The NCAA has ruled North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo and fullback Devon Ramsay permanently ineligible.

In a news release Monday evening, the school said it would appeal the ruling, though the players will remain ineligible until the appeal process is complete.

”While we respect the decision, the facts of the cases simply do not support permanent ineligibility,” athletic director Dick Baddour said in a statement. ”We will aggressively appeal and are hopeful the reinstatement committee will reach the same conclusion.”

The school didn’t specify a reason for the rulings, though privacy laws would prevent it from discussing any player’s involvement in the academic review. Team spokesman Kevin Best declined to comment Monday night when asked about the specific violations for each player, citing federal privacy laws.

McAdoo and Ramsay were the last players awaiting word on their status amid the NCAA investigation into the football program. The NCAA initially focused on agent-related benefits, but later expanded the probe to include possible academic violations involving a tutor.

McAdoo was one of 13 players who missed the opener against LSU and hadn’t played this season. Ramsay played four games before the school decided to hold him out. The school said the NCAA won’t require the Tar Heels to forfeit either of the two wins in which Ramsay played.

McAdoo is the seventh player to miss the entire season due to the investigation, joining defensive tackle Marvin Austin, defensive end Robert Quinn, receiver Greg Little, cornerback Charles Brown, and safeties Brian Gupton and Jonathan Smith.

The NCAA declared Quinn and Little permanently ineligible for receiving jewelry and travel accommodations, then lying about it in three interviews. The school kicked Austin off the team after the NCAA offered preliminary information that he had received $10,000 to $13,000 in improper benefits.

As with McAdoo and Ramsay, the school didn’t specify why Brown, Gupton or Smith wouldn’t play this season.

Five of the 13 players who missed the LSU game have returned to game action after missing a combined 20 games because of being held out of games by the school or suspended by the NCAA. A sixth player, tailback Ryan Houston, was cleared to return after five games but plans to redshirt.